Firefighter Dictionary: E

The following is common terminology to structural fire firefighters. There are additional definitions for emergency medical terminology, building construction, arson investigation and hazardous materials and more. Please note that some definitions have more than one meaning but are spelled the same. Click on a letter to take you to that index.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

E

Earthquake Strap             

A metal strap used to secure gas hot water heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. Intended to reduce the chances of having the water heater fall over in an earthquake and causing a gas leak.

Easement                            

The right to use land owned by another, such as a utility company's', city's', states' or federal governments' right-of-way.

Eave                                     

Lower portion of the roof that overhangs the exterior walls. The horizontal exterior roof overhang.

Edema                                 

The swelling of body tissues resulting from fluid retention.

Edge, Drip                          

A continuous corrosion-resistant, non-staining material such as 26 gauge galvanized steel, formed to provide a drip and nailed along the eaves and rakes. They are designed and installed to protect the edges of the deck and prevent leaks at this point by allowing water to drip free of underlying eave and cornice construction.

Eduction                             

The act of extracting a substance unchanged from another substance. A method of removing water from below grade using the Venturi Principle.

Eductor                               

A device that by the rapid jetting of a liquid or gas causes additional liquid or gas to be moved or picked up. Common use is as a foam eductor, water eductor, or smoke ejector. Proportioning device that draws foam concentrate into the water flowing through a hose line or pipe by a Venturi principal

Egress                                

A place or means of exiting a structure. An egress window is required in every bedroom and basement. Normally a 4' X 4' window is the minimum size required

EKG                                     

See Electrocardiogram.

Elbow (ell)                          

A plumbing or electrical fitting that lets you change directions in runs of pipe or conduit.

Electric resistance coils

Metal wires that heat up when electric current passes through them and are used in baseboard heaters and electric water heaters.

Electrical entrance package          

The entry point of the electrical power including: (1) the 'strike' or location where the overhead or underground electrical lines connect to the house, (2) The meter which measures how much power is used and (3) The 'panel' or 'circuit breaker box ' (or 'fuse box') where the power can be shut off and where overload devices such a fuses or circuit breakers and located.

Electricity                          

The flow of electrons.

Electrocardiogram           

The written record of the electric activity of a heart.

Electrolyte                         

A substance that dissociates into ions when in solution and conducts electricity. In hazardous materials usually any of several minerals lost due to perspiration during an incident. The electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, bicarbonate and phosphate. The balance of the electrolytes in our bodies is essential for normal function of our cells and our organs.

Electrolyte imbalance      

A chemical imbalance in the body due to the loss of minerals. This can occur in a number of ways. Rapid loss of body fluids from excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea and some medications can lead to loss of electrolytes, thus creating the imbalance. This imbalance can further lead to vital human organs not functioning correctly.

Element                              

The simplest form of a substance and the basic building block of chemistry.

Elevated master stream   

Fire stream in excess of 250 gpm that is deployed from the tip of an aerial device.

Elevated Storage system 

A system of storing impounded water supplies above the grade level at which the water will be used.

Elevating Boom                 

The elevating mechanism of two or more booms or extendable sections on articulating aerial tower apparatus.

Elevating platform apparatus         

A hydraulically-raised platform mounted on fire apparatus and designed for rescue and fire fighting.

Elevation Loss                   

When a nozzle is operating at an elevation higher than the discharge, elevation pressure is exerted back against the pump. This is roughly equivalent to 5 psi per 10 feet of elevation. The reverse of course is also true as the water will gain pressure when going downhill.

Elevation pressure           

Gain or loss of pressure in a hose line due to a change in elevation. Also called Elevation Loss.

EMAC                             

Emergency Management Assistance Compact

EMD                  

Emergency Management Division, Also, Emergency Medical Dispatching

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Emergency                         

1) Absent a Presidential declared emergency, any incident (s), human-caused or natural, that requires responsive action to protect life or property.  Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States. 2) The nomenclature of a response mode of travel by emergency vehicles to a scene. The use of lights and sirens is authorized by state statute, indicates that the vehicle is in emergency response mode.3) A sudden and unexpected event calling for immediate remedial action.

Emergency Management Coordinator/Director        

The individual within each political subdivision that has coordination responsibility for jurisdictional emergency management.

Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs)     

The physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support domestic incident management activities normally takes place. An EOC may be a temporary facility or may be located in a more central or permanently established facility, perhaps at a higher level of organization within a jurisdiction. EOCs may be organized by major functional disciplines (e.g., fire, law enforcement, and medical services), by jurisdiction (Federal, State, regional, county, city, tribal), or some combination thereof. The site where government agency officials or senior managers from organizations provide central direction and control of a major emergency. The EOC usually deals with the political, governmental, legal, insurance, community, and public affairs issues related to the emergency. The operational aspects of the emergency are managed by the on-scene Incident Command Post (ICP). See Incident Command Post to compare the difference.

Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)              

The plan that each jurisdiction has and maintains for responding to a wide variety of potential hazards.

Emergency Public Information     

Information that is disseminated primarily in anticipation of an emergency or during an emergency. In addition to providing situational information to the public, it also frequently provides directive actions required to be taken by the general public.

Emergency response organization               

An organization that utilizes personnel trained in emergency response. This would include fire, law enforcement, EMS, and industrial emergency response teams.

Emergency response personnel    

Personnel assigned to organizations that have the responsibility for responding to different types of emergency situations.

Emergency Response Provider     

Includes Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency public safety, law enforcement, emergency response, emergency medical (including hospital emergency facilities), and related personnel, agencies, and authorities. Also known as Emergency Responder.

EMI                                      

Emergency Management Institute located on the United States Fire Administration campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

EMS                                    

 Emergency Medical Services. Functions as required to provide emergency medical care for ill or injured persons by trained providers. Shortened term for EMS Sector under NIMS / Incident Management System.

EMT                                    

Emergency Medical Technician. A person trained and certified to appraise and initiate the administration of basic emergency services (as cardiopulmonary resuscitation) care for victims of trauma or acute illness before or during transportation of the victims to a health care facility.

Encapsulant                       

A mitigation technique that reduces or eliminates emissions from a source by sealing with an impenetrable barrier.

Encephalitis                      

Inflammation of the brain.

End lap or sidelap             

The shortest distance in inches which adjacent shingles horizontally overlap each other

Endemic                              

The usual frequency of a disease occurrence. The continuing prevalence of a disease among a population or in an area.

Endothermic reaction      

A chemical reaction in which heat is absorbed.

Engine                                

A fire department pumper. The engine is also referred to as a pumper because of its ability to pump water. In most cases, an engine carries small ground ladders, supply line to connect it with a hydrant, hand lines to fight the fire with and a tank holding between 500 and 1,000 gallons of water.

Engine Company               

An engine company is a combination of a fire engine and the manpower used to staff it. A standard engine company will include an officer, driver/engineer and two firefighters on a pumper truck. Firefighting unit that provides extinguishment and basic emergency medical service.

Engine house                     

A firehouse or fire station.

Engine pressure               

Actual amount of pressure being produced by the pump. When taking water from a hydrant, it is the difference between the intake pressure and the discharge pressure. When drafting, it is the sum of the intake pressure and the discharge pressure. (NOTE: Intake pressure is credited for lift and intake hose friction loss and is added to the discharge pressure.) Also called Net Pressure or Engine Pressure.

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Engineer                            

The engineer is also responsible for all of the equipment that is on the engine and making sure that it is clean and in good working condition. They also run the pumps, etc. when they are at a fire. A driver and operator of fire apparatus; a fire protection or fire prevention person qualified under NFPA standards to operate and drive any fire apparatus. See Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator.

Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]    

An agency of the federal government whose objective is to protect and enhance our environment today and for the future. It is responsible for pollution control and abatement, including programs for air, water pollution, solid and toxic waste, pesticide control, noise abatement, and other pollution sources and concerns.

EOD                                    

Explosive Ordnance Disposal refers to military or civilian bomb squads.

EPA registration number               

The number that appears on the pesticide label to identify the individual pesticide product. May appear as "EPA Reg. NO."

ERT                                 

Emergency Response Team

Escutcheon                        

An ornamental plate that fits around a pipe extending through a wall or floor to hide the cut out hole

Etiology                              

 The scientific study of origins or causes of disease.

Evacuation                          

Organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of civilians from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.

Evaporation                        

The conversion of a material from liquid state to vapor state below the material's boiling point.

Evaporation rate                

The rate at which a liquid changes to vapor at normal room temperature.

Evaporator coil                  

The part of a cooling system that absorbs heat from air in your home. Also see condensing unit.

Event                                   

A planned, non-emergency activity. ICS can be used as the management system for a wide range of events, e.g., parades, concerts, or sporting events

Evolution                            

An agreed operational sequence requiring teamwork and covering various basic firefighting tasks such as the placement of hose and heavy ladders

Exhalation valve (respiratory protection)    

A device which permits exhaled air to be discharged from a respirator and prevents outside air from entering.

Exit                                      

A means for going out of a structure through normal openings. A fire exit is especially designed and located for emergency evacuation.

Exothermic                        

A chemical reaction in which heat is given off during the formation of chemical compounds. An example is the heat given off during the formation of carbon dioxide produced by the chemical reaction of oxygen with carbon during a fire. Most exothermic compounds are stable; that is, they cannot be easily decomposed.

Expansion joint                 

Fibrous material (@1/2" thick) installed in and around a concrete slab to permit it to move up and down (seasonally) along the non-moving foundation wall.

Expansion ratio                 

The amount of gas produced from a given volume of liquid escaping from a container at a given temperature.

Explosion                            

The sudden conversion of potential energy (chemical or mechanical) into kinetic energy with the production and release of gases under pressure, or the release of gas under pressure. These high pressure gases then do mechanical work such as moving, changing, or shattering nearby materials.

Explosive                            

Any chemical compound, mixture, or device the primary purpose of which is to function by explosion.

Explosive material            

Any material that can act as fuel for an explosion.

Exposed aggregate finish

A method of finishing concrete which washes the cement/sand mixture off the top layer of the aggregate - usually gravel. Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior surfaces.

Exposure                            

a) People or property that maybe endangered by a fire, smoke, weather extremes or runoff. b) An object, such as a building or other structure, in the proximity of a fire and in danger of being ignited by the fire’s heat. c) Potential for contamination from a hazardous substance. d) The shortest distance in inches between exposed edges of overlapping courses of roofing; the amount left exposed to the weather.

Exposures                          

Exposures are buildings or structures that are near the structure on fire and that are placed at risk by the fire. A primary focus of the responding fire department will be to protect the exposures, thus reducing the risk of the fire spreading and causing additional damage to life and property.

Extend                                 

A line may be extended by adding hose, straightening, or rerouting the hose already laid. Also, to extend the reach of an extension ladder by raising the fly section.

Extension (of fire)             

Spread of fire, usually during the course of firefighting operations, to areas not believed to have been previously involved as extension of fire through open partitions into the attic or extension through an un-protected opening into another room or building.

Extension ladder               

A sectional ladder of two or more parts that can be extended to various heights.

External water supply      

Any water supply to a fire pump from a source other than the vehicle's own water tank.

Extinguish                         

To put out a fire completely.

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Extinguisher                     

A portable fire fighting appliance designed for use on specific types of fuel and classes of fire.

Extremely flammable       

A liquid pesticide that has a flash point of 20 degrees F (-6.67 degrees C) or lower, determined by closed cup or Seta flash test.